Improvement in button



'iintrd 5mm:

@met (twice.

Lette/rs Patent No. 102,436, dated April 26, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN'BUTTON-.SHANK GAUGE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, J AMES F. RUSSELL, of Washington City, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new andusefnlImprovements in Button-Shank Gauge; and I do hereby dclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings making a part of this application. I

My invention has for its` object to provide an instrument by the use of which the shank of buttons pr0- duced by sewing them to garments (or material) may be regulated in length and -made stronger than when made without the use of my shank-gauge, the combination therewith of other features rendering it a convenient and useful adjunct to a 'ladys work-basket;

and

My invention consists in making a graduated or stepped shank-gauge of ivory, hard rubber, steel, or any other suitable material, provided with suitable slots Within which the button-shank is formed, and

with a thread-cutter, nail cleaner, nail iile, andv inch .measure, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

It is well known, particularly by ladies, that'in sewing buttons to garments the length of the shank has to be regulated by the eye and expe1ience,-and that, especially where the shank is long, the stitches or threads composing the shank are of greater or less length, and, as a result, the shank is not strong, the strain being always greatest, or, in fact, entirely upon the shortest thread or strand of the shank, until it is broken, when it fails upon the next shortest, resulting eventnallyin the entire rupture of the shank. All these disadvantages are overcome, and great benefits derived by the use of my improved gauge.

To enable those skilled in the art to-make and understand the use of my button-shank gauge, I will proceed to describe the same, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in whi-ch- Figure l is a top or plan view Figure 2, an edge view; and

Figure '3, a rear view, or the reverse of fig. l. v

Similar letters of reference denote like parts in the different figures.

A represents the blade, graduated or stepped, as seen at 1 2 3. On the tread of each step is out a slot, a, of about the shape seen, with a neck, b.

One extremity of the blade terminates in a punch or bodkin, B, and the other in a thread-cutter, C, and nail cleaner, D.

On the back or straight side of the blade, and at or near the edge opposite to the slots A, is cut or secured a file, E, for tiling the nails.

When the kinstrument is made of a vegetable substance, the thread-cutter and nail file of course have .to be made separate `and secured thereto.

To form a shank, the gauge is placed upon the ygarmentor material with one of the slots A (according to the length of the shank desired) directly over the point at which the button is to be secured. The button is then held against the top of the blade, immediately over the slot, and the threaded needle-passed through the eyes 0f the button as usual, the thread heilig drawn tight. When the operation is iinished and thread severed, the gauge is dra-wn ii'oin between the button and material, and the shank passed from the slot through its neck b.

Of course my improved shank-gauge may be varied in many respects, without departing from the spirit ot' the invention.

The inch measure has not been particularly explained, as a reference to the drawing-will fully illus- 2. ln combination with the button-shank gauge,

the bodkin, thread-cutter, nail le, nail cleaner, and inch measure, all, or any one or more, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have-hereunto set my hand this 20th day of November, A. D. 1869.

JAS. F. RUSSELL.

Witnesses:

v WM. C. MCIN'IIRE, WM. B. CLINE. 

